Platino under tow..Comanche smashes record...GAC Pindar takes M32's

by . on 19 Jun 2016 Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand e-magazine for June 19, 2016

In this edition, we round out our coverage of the Platino tragedy, with the 20-metre yacht being located 300nm north of NZ, on Friday and being taken under tow about 1300hrs on Friday afternoon.

We have no information on her arrival back in New Zealand. There will be an Inquest into the two deaths as the vessel is New Zealand registered.

Maritime NZ advised that a decision on any inquiry will be made once the vessel arrives back in New Zealand and is inspected.

A little research revealed that since 1983 there have been 12 deaths at sea on yachts either heading as part of a cruiser group to the Pacific Islands or returning to New Zealand in early to mid-June. To our knowledge, there have been no deaths aboard yachts in race fleets heading to various Pacific destinations in that period.

Quite why that disparity exists is probably a topic best addressed by any independent Investigation. For sure the facts of this latest incident need to be disclosed in an open way, at the proper time - so that others can learn - which is part of the way of the sea.

The Olympic non-selection issues continue to bubble away across the Tasman, with one of the 49erFX crews Appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision not to send one of three crews competing in the class at World Championship level to the 2016 Olympics.

The matter was heard by CAS on Friday, but as yet a decision has not been announced. CAS is not expected to overturn the decision for the same reasons that the Sports Disputes Tribunal refused to overturn Yachting New Zealand's selection decision in respect of non-selection in two classes.

The reason the appeal authorities won't intervene is that the policy is worded in such a way that the national sailing bodies have given themselves huge discretion in the way that selections are made, to the point where they are almost impossible to successfully appeal.

Over the Tasman social media has been bought into play with an online petition netting 700 signatures in a few days, which was delivered to Australian Sailing, formerly Yachting Australia. What effect that will have remains to be seen - but we suspect it will be like water on a duck's back.

Another initiative is a letter written to the Australian Minister of Sport, which sets out the broader issues in the decision of Australian Sailing to back this non-decision.

It is equally applicable this side of the Tasman. We reproduce it here:

I write to you as a supporter who (alongside ASC Chair John Wylie AM) publicly urged recently, the promotion and recognition of women’s sport, and urge you to ask the question of Australian Sailing - why don’t we take every opportunity to send girls to the Olympics when their male counterparts have a 40+years head start to develop? I understand the boat is already in Rio, the cost is almost completely expended vis-a-vis training, the class qualified to go AND Australia has a team of two girls who rank 14 by ISAF World Rankings (at 13/6/16). NSO members are outraged!

This matter is complex and urgent. The IOC has stated it wants 50/50 gender equality. Our sporting body will be called upon to address the inequities of gender and diversity in sailing in due course. However, the simple matter is that Australian Sailing could send a girls team (49erFX class) and if they don’t the opportunity is likely to go to Croatia instead.

Documentation guidelines for selection must be altered to be more inclusive of women, who are still developing as latecomers to yet another male dominated sport through history but clearly this will take time. Currently, it is written such that the committee COULD change their mind.

For your guidance, sailing's selection policy has seven pages (most other Australian Olympic sports have three). Also, the statistical data on women (into this sport with limited opportunities since the 1990’s) actually show a higher medal success percentage than the male counterparts. There are nine male coaches listed - where are the women? When and how do they develop these opportunities?

Unless Australian Sailing reverses their decision today, Australia will not have adequate female representation in this sport at the 2016 Olympics. Many members of the organisation have very different expectations regarding gender equity and medal obligations - see just the social media support of over 3200 people at www.facebook.com/Aus49erfx and petition which is going to the Board of Australian Sailing. I have had preliminary discussions with the office of the Sex Discrimination Minister, and this issue WILL be pursued through ALL the appropriate avenues of support for this injustice. This will not help Australia at the Olympics in August, however - the time to act is now!

In New Zealand (in sailing) last month the tribunal chairman cited ‘inconsistencies’ and ‘arbitrary discretion’ being appalling phrases to determine athletes selection. There is much around the sailing world press about this matter and Australia having to answer, ultimately.

Today we are asking you to be a 'Champion of Change for Sailing' and 'Please ask the question of Australian Sailing TODAY!'

Whilst it is sad that the conversation was not engaged between Australian Sailing and stakeholder’s about medal expectations and gender equity earlier, it is our sincere hope that systemic change can be brought about going forward, as it is desired by all Australians.

Sail-World's information is that World Sailing has taken the first steps to introduce gender equality into Sailing along with the International Olympic Committee's Agenda 2020. Gender equality in this context means 50% share of Participation and 50% share of Medals for women athletes.

The policy of Australian Sailing and Yachting New Zealand are not significantly different.

There is nothing wrong with the policies - just the extreme way in which they are applied. But that is a topic for another day.

We hear today that Swimming NZ has also decoded not to nominate two ocean swimmers for Rio 2016 who were offered Regional Qualification places by the IOC. As with the Australian 49erFX crews an online petition has been launched through Change.org.

That online document attracted a comment from Jaynie Parkhouse, swimming Gold Medalist at the 1974 Commonwealth Games:

In 1974 I was the last pick for the NZ team to the Commonwealth Games. My best time before those Games for the 800m Freestyle was over 30 seconds behind the Australian world record holder. Because of the faith shown by the selectors, I was determined to prove myself as a worthy member of the team. As a result of this, I won Gold in the 800m Free, beating the current world record holder, and improved my previous best time by around 28 seconds. I also won Bronze in the 400 free. I came to understand the power of belief, and the potential inside a person when given the chance to prove themselves. Kane and Charlotte deserve their chance.

In this edition we have two stories of significant achievements by women racing in open sailing competition.

Sailing at Cowes, England, Louise Morton and her all female crew have won the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup for the fourth time.

And further down the coast at Hayling Island, Katie Nurton has become the first ever female skipper to win International 14 Prince of Wales Cup - one of the premier trophies in international dinghy sailing.

And of course, Comanche the supermaxi which has just slashed the Newport Bermuda race record is co-owned by Kristy Hinze.

Follow all the racing and developments in major and local events on www.sail-world.com, scroll to the bottom of the site, select New Zealand, and get all the latest news and updates from the sailing world.

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

sailworldnzl@gmail.com

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